Vermilion
Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: (312) 527-4060
- Price:
- $$$$
- Cross Street:
- State Street
- Directions:
- El: Red Line to Grand, Brown/Purple Line to Merchandise Mart
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-10pm, Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-11pm, Sat 5pm-11pm, Sun 5pm-10pm
Editorial Review for Vermilion – by Jennifer Olvera
The Scene
When pulled, gauzy curtains create intimate nooks within this wood-beamed dining room with black and white photography hung on red-painted and silver brick walls. A well-heeled, multi-generational crowd congregates around a glossy red bar to sip intoxicating herbed, spiced cocktails before sliding into curvaceous white leather banquettes or dark wood chairs at linen-topped tables. Informative, friendly servers up the ante.
The Food
A fiery--not to mention, sexy--blend of Indian and Latin cuisines finds its stride among small plates. Crisp, fragrant potato and garbanzo bean-filled pastry cups have interactive appeal since diners fill them with lush, refreshing cilantro water and pop them into mouths whole. Shrimp slathered with inky, peanut-studded tamarind sauce is brightened by crunchy moong bean-daikon slaw. Tropical lobster, shrimp and tilapia ceviche with mango, mint and ginger belies inclement weather. Among entrees, tender tandoori skirt steak delivers big flavor, but chili-glazed ribs leave a bitter taste.
Hits
Tapas dishes are varied. The wonderful sauces deserve to be sopped up with sides of chewy house-made roti or naan.
Misses
While the specialty "herb and spice" cocktails are interesting, some sound better on paper. For example, the pear and coriander martini is gritty toward the bottom, and the tamarind margarita has a biting edge.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
ParkingMetered street parking, while limited, is best found right after street parking restrictions lift at 6pm.
Save MoneyTapas selections are especially affordable during lunch. Two cost $12, and four can be had for $22.
Where to SitWhen coming with a small group, snag the curtain-swathed, circular booth opposite the bar for a prime perch.
User Reviews for Vermilion
07/30/2008 Posted by ariel88
We were looking for a good restaurant around downtown area. After a lot of searching, we decided to try something new. After trying it, I don’t think that there was anything new about this restaurant. The place looks like a spa and it is very loud. The food sounds better on the menu than on your table. The only thing Indian is their sauces and by the way I had better for a lot cheaper at a real Indian restaurant on Devon. I don’t consider the food to be South American. I tried lots of South American dishes and they are nothing like them. It takes more than meat, cilantro and lime to make a South American dish. The portions are very small and unless you are used to eat small portion, eat something before going. The food takes forever to cook (we waited 1 hour for a steak!!!!). The only thing good about this restaurant is the service, but what should your response be when your waiter comes at your table every 15 minutes and you don’t have any food on your table?
Pros: Waiting staff
Cons: Food the reason we go to the restaurant
06/19/2008 Posted by JamesBeaconJr
It is well understood that Chicago is sorely lacking in quality Indian restaurants. In fact, Washington D.C., L.A., and New York far outshine our city in terms of creatively representing Indian food. This is indeed tragic for Chicagoans, for they've been deprived of the great richness and diversity of Indian cuisine for too long. I am appreciative that the chef at Vermillion, the now defunct Monsoon, and the new Marigold in uptown strive to uplift a cuisine that has been duplicated and replicated in the standard North Indian variety with little or now attempt at innovation at innumerable establishments in and around Chicago. Indian food deserves better. Though places like Marigold and Vermillion are a step in the right direction, there is indeed great room for improvement. To the owners at Vermillion and Marigold, i sincerely recomment they travel to Delhi (i'm being serious) and try Swagath Restaurant in Defense colony. They recently got a five star review by the New York Times and were featured on our NPR station. I still fondly recall the wondrous cuisine I experienced there- It was indian cuisine executed at its finist- just brilliant. If somebody could do something on the level of a Swagath, here in Chicago, it would be an immense success- a restaurant with longevity and an assured loyal following. Vermillion attempts greatness, and occassionally approaches it in a few dishes, but most of the cuisine does not give Indian cuisine the treatment it deserves.
Pros: An improvement in a very bad Indian restaurant scene
Cons: Still room for improvement.
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